on of females. The students of the Citadel will do anything to preserve their hidden transcript.The closeness of their living quarters and the amount of time spent with each other result in family like relationships. Faludi recorded a discussion of cadets on the family style of the school. The unanimous feeling is that in these circumstances, men can show more affection towards each other when women are not around. Their masculinity does not have to constantly be proved. In this hidden transcript, the cadets are free to behave in whichever way they wish. What was going on here was playa kind of freedom and spontaneity that, in this culture, only women are permitted (302). Behavior that usually would seem unacceptable of men is tolerable within the walls of the Citadel. Certain things are no longer considered a taboo. In Faludis essay, one cadet gives an example of this in describing the cadets bathing practices.The men bathe as a group. They walk to the shower down the open galleries in nothing but our bathrobes or even without any clothes. Another cadet said, I know it sounds trivial, but all of us in one shower, its like were all one, were all the same, andI dont knowyou feel like youre exposed, but you feel safe. You know these guys are going to be your friends for life (275).Another cadet went into further detail on this topic:When we are in the showers, its very intimate, a senior cadet said. Were one mass, naked together, and it makes us closerYoure shaved, youre naked, youre afraid together. You can cry (297).In this example, we see that the cadets are able to look past what society may view as sexual tensions and convert showering together into a family affair. This is one of many things that men are only able to do within a hidden transcript. The presence of enhanced physical affection among males is also evidence of the increased comfort level outside of the public eye. Faludi observes the existence of many pho...
